MACAU TRAVEL GUIDE: (Budget + Itinerary) 2019

Macau grew like a fantasy utopia on an island and reclaimed land southwest of Hong Kong. The heart of this Special Administrative Region of China is littered with ostentatious hotels flaunting spectacular architecture, many of them recreating cities like Paris, Venice, Rome, and New York. They are best appreciated at night when the flashing neon lights turn on, screaming stunning, lavish views like nowhere else in Asia. Macau’s luxury hotels aim to satisfy the needs and whims of visitors in one location; with shops, restaurants, rides, long-running shows, etc. In fact, they’re the largest revenue makers here, comprising about 40% of the economy. So, it’s no surprise why Macau is now dubbed as the “Gaming Capital of the World”, outshining the legendary Las Vegas Strip.

But Macau is more than just an entertainment mecca, it’s a place where modernity beautifully blends with timeless traditions. This region also offers other attractions to satisfy tourists who want to take a break from the dazzling part of the island. The downtown area in Macau Peninsula for example, is home to a historic center where you can take a leisurely stroll on cobbled streets hemmed in by colorful heritage buildings, age-old plazas, ancient forts and temples. Macau’s Eastern and Western fusion can be traced through its food, design, art and history.

Here’s a Macau Travel Guide with MACAU ITINERARY with budget to help you plan your trip.

ABOUT MACAU

Speaking of history, the first wave of Chinese settlers in Macau sought refuge from the invading Mongols. Eventually, the Portuguese traders arrived in Macau and where given rights to settle for trading purposes because they helped China against coastal pirates. The Portuguese dominated trading with India, China, and Japan, and eventually, the business was limited to Macau port. The Portuguese immigrants brought with them Malay slaves and African slaves who served as their sailors and interpreters. Their African slaves in turn owned Japanese slaves. As Portuguese settlers grew in Macau, they insisted on having their own government.

Because of the rise of trading in Macau Port, the Dutch wanted to take control of it, but they were defeated, thanks to the slaves who staunchly fought for Macau, according to the Dutch governor. Because of these economic and political transformations, the Macanese today are descendants of Chinese, Portuguese and Indian traders, and slaves from Africa, Japan and Timor thriving harmoniously in the peninsula.

Finally, after 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule, Macau became a Special Administrative Region of China, an autonomous territory just like Hong Kong, that has its own economic and political system, currency and immigration policies. This is why tourists going to and leaving Macau need to go through immigration, even those from Hong Kong.

MACAU PRACTICAL INFORMATION

When is the best time to visit Macau:

Source: NOOA

AUTUMN: The best season to travel to Macau is during autumn (September – December) when the climate is cool with infrequent typhoons, so you can stroll leisurely around the region. December is the peak season of travel to Macau.

WINTER: Winter in Macau falls on January to February. During this season, the weather is cold but not that harsh, and there’s no snow.

SPRING: March to May is considered spring in Macau, characterised by mild weather in March, rainy in April and May is humid with frequent rains.

SUMMER: Summer in Macau is June to August with humid climate and recurring typhoons, rain and occasional thunderstorm. Best to avoid summer because this is the typhoon season in Macau. Refer to the table above for the high and low temperatures as well as rain frequency.

MACAU VISA : Filipinos/Philippine passport holders can enter Macau without a visa for 30 days. Make sure your passport is still valid, at least 6 months before it expires.

Note: Macau doesn’t stamp Philippine passports. If you are a Filipino, the Immigration Officer in Macau will give you a small white paper that will serve as your entry permit. Don’t lose it.

MACAU MODE OF PAYMENT : Cash is preferred by most establishments, but some restaurants, stores and hotels also accept credit card payments.

MONEY EXCHANGE in MACAU : The best rate is the bank’s rate, so you can withdraw from international ATMs. However, money exchange centers also abound in Macau especially around Senado Square and small streets nearby, cheaper than exchange rates at hotels or at Macau Airport. You can bring Philippine Peso, Hong Kong Dollars or US Dollars.

TIP: If coming from Hong Kong, you can use your Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in Macau since the HKD and Macau pataca (MOP) are almost equal in value. But then again, if you are budget-conscious, then change your HKD to MOP in money changers. Take note though that you cannot use your Macau pataca (MOP) in Hong Kong. If you plan on crossing toHong Kong after Macau, exchange your Macau pataca for Hong Kong dollars in Macau.

MACAU LANGUANGE: English is not widely spoken in Macau. You may have a hard time asking for directions, use Google Maps instead. If you really need to ask something, I suggest you use Google translate. Staff at hotels, airport and other tourism establishments can generally understand and speak English. Macau’s official languages is Cantonese; however, many streets and buildings names are Portuguese.

MACAU POWER SOCKET: Macau uses D, F, G, and M power plug. The main power in Macau is 220V-240 V, 50Hz. You can buy adaptors on street markets and shops, or better yet, purchase at a hardware store before leaving the Philippines.

MACAU WI-FI: Getting connected online really helps when you’re in Macau. Although there are free Wi-Fi available, I always avoid that for security reasons. Having your own Wi-Fi is recommended whenever traveling. You can rent a pocket Wi-Fi below.

Bring comfortable outfit and shoes as you will most likely do a lot of walking.

Shades and sunscreen to protect your skin from the harsh sun.

DRONE IN MACAU: Drone is allowed in Macau during the day and good weather condition, but you can’t fly it above 30 meters without government permission, nor can you fly it above people or large crowds.

MACAU SAFETY: Macua is a relatively safe place for tourists even for solo female travelers. This region is orderly and community-focused. But as in any other place, take care of your valuables, lock your luggage inside your hotel.

MACAU ORIENTATION

Macau is composed of 4 districts, namely:

Macau Peninsula : This is home to the main city center where the old town is located. If you want to visit Macau tower, Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul’s Church, Macau Museum, Monte Fort, Dominic Church and some luxury hotels like Hotel Lisboa, Sands Macau and Wynn Palace, this is the place to be.

Taipa: This is where you need to go if you want to visit the Taipai Village, home to beautifully-preserved Macanese architecture.

Cotai: The reclaimed area between Taipa and Coloane is now known as Cotai. This is home to the new luxury hotels and gaming centers in Macau.

Coloane: Home to colonial villages (Coloane Village) and famed Macau’s beaches like Cheoc Van Beach (Bamboo Bay) and Hac Sa Beach (Black Sand Beach), next to it is the Ha Sac Reservoir Country Park.

MACAU DIY TRAVEL GUIDE (BUDGET + ITINERARY)

HOW TO GET TO MACAU

By Air

Macau International Airport is located in Taipa, near the Taipa Ferry Terminal and bus routes. It takes roughly 36 minutes to Macau Peninsula city center by bus or abut 17 minutes by taxi or car, depending on traffic. It takes less than 10 minutes by bus and taxi to the Taipai Ferry Terminal while the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal in downtown Macau is approximately 35 minutes by bus. Taipa Village on the other hand is roughly 21 minutes by bus.

MANILA, CEBU and DAVAO to MACAU

If coming from the Philippines, there are daily flights from Manila, Cebu and Davao to Macau. You can compare the flights through the link below.

Macau Airport to Macau City Center

AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS : There are FREE shuttle buses from Macau International Airport to the city center. To ride the airport shuttle bus, take the North exit of the airport and walk towards the parking lot. Buses leave every 15-20 minutes from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

HOTEL BUS : Riding the FREE luxury hotel bus is a common way to travel around Macau. You can find them at Macau International Airport. You don’t need to reserve your seats, just hop into the bus. Don’t worry, you won’t be asked for your hotel booking, you don’t need to book a room to avail of the free hotel bus. I suggest you find the nearest luxury hotel with free shuttle to your hotel. The schedules are posted at the bus terminal.

PUBLIC BUS : You may opt to ride the public bus from Macau Airport to the city center,Cotai, Coloane or Taipa. Fare is MOP 6. You can find the bus schedule HERE

TIP: If your hotel is around Senado Square, you can use AP1 bus from Macau Airport to city center for MOP 6 (+ MOP 3 for big luggage). Then you can get off at one of the luxury hotels like Wynn Macau or Lisboa in Macau Peninsula or at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. Then take a taxi to your hotel (use Google Maps to show the hotel location to the driver in case driver doesn’t speak English).

HONG KONG TO MACAU

Macau is accessible from Hong Kong, so consider adding Hong Kong on your itinerary. You can do the following :

Philippines → Macau → Hong Kong → Philippines: Fly to Macau and cross to Hong Kong, then exit in Hong Kong back to the Philippines or whatever your home country is. Or you can fly to most popular mode of transportation here is the ferry, see details below.

Philippines→ Hong Kong → Macau→ Philippines: Fly to Hong Kong then cross to Macau, then fly out back to the Philippines or whatever your country is.

Philippines → Macau→ Hong Kong→ Macau→Philippines

By Ferry

Because Macau is about an hour away from Hong Kong by ferry, many tourists usually do a Macua-Hong Kong trip or Hong Kong-Macau trip. The most cost-efficient mode of transportation is by ferry.

In Hongkong, there are 3 ferry terminals where you can board a ferry to Macau:

Hongkong Macau Ferry Terminal (Sheung Wan Terminal): This is where we took the ferry to Macau. It is located on the 3rd floor of Shuntak Tak Center in Hong Kong.

How to get there: Take MTR to Sheung Wan and take Exit D. Proceed to the ferry terminal on the 3rd floor.

TIP: If you have an Iventure Card Hongkong and Macau Pass, you can get 15% off your Cotai water jet ferry tickets.RESERVE HERE

HOW TO BOARD THE FERRY BETWEEN MACAU HONGKONG

Purchase or redeem your ferry ticket at the ticketing counter of the ferry terminal.

Walk to the Check-in Gate.

Proceed to the Immigration Counter for clearance.

Go to Seat Allocation Counter for your seat assignment. You will be provided a number, which is your seat number. Don’t forget this!

Ride the ferry. That’s it!

IMPORTANT:

Each passenger is allowed 1 piece of luggage for up to 20kg. There’s a fee for excess baggage.

Arrive at least an hour at the ferry terminal before your departure time.

TAIPA FERRY TERMINAL TO CITY CENTER

FREE Hotel Shuttle Bus: Board one of the free hotel shuttles in Macau, like I said earlier, you can ride even if you will not be staying in that hotel. If your hotel doesn’t have a free shuttle bus, take the shuttle bus of the nearest luxury hotel to your Macau hostel/hotel.

Public Bus: Macau public buses are available from 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM, refer to Google for the bus number that you should ride, the bus route, the bus stop and estimated travel time.

GETTING AROUND MACAU

It’s quite easy to get around Macau or to tour around Macau. Many of its historic attractions are concentrated in one area, around Senado Square and are just walking distance of each other. But if you will be covering areas outside the Macau Peninsula, say Taipa, Cotai or Coloane, you have the following options:

FREE Hotel Shuttle Bus: Luxury hotels in Macau have free shuttle buses, you can ride even if you are not booked in that hotel. If your hotel doesn’t have a free shuttle bus, you can ride the shuttle bus of the nearest luxury hotel to your Macau hostel/hotel.

2.Public Bus: Macau buses operate on a circular route. They are available from 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM. You can consult Google as it will give you the bus number you should take, the bus route, the bus stop and estimated travel time. Or better yet, download this Macau Bus guide and Offline App , for I phone users, you can use this Macau App .Fare starts at MOP 3.20/ PHP 21 (HKD 3/USD 0.40/SGD 0.54/MYR 1.63)

You can ride Macau public buses at Macau Airport, Taipa Terminal (Cotai Terminal) and Macau Ferry Terminal. The main terminals and bus stops are located outside the Jetfoil Terminal, in front of the Lisboa hotel, near the Maritime Museum and A-Ma Temple, and along Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro.

Pay the driver as you board the bus if you will pay by cash. Make sure you have exact coins with you as the driver doesn’t give change. You can also buy a prepaid smart card calls Macau Pass (similar to the Octopus Card of Hongkong) to pay for your bus fares. When riding the bus, take the front door and when getting off, take the rear door.

3.HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOUR BUS: If you don’t want to go through the hassle of figuring out which bus or route to take, or maybe you are traveling with seniors or kids, a pretty convenient way to tour Macau is by riding the Macau hop-on hop-off bus. This sightseeing bus will take you to the main tourist attractions in Macau, with 16 bus stops. The bus operates from 9:30 AM to 4:15 PM with guided commentary in English and Mandarin (you need to use the headphone that will be provided to you). Basically, you can hop-on the bus to reach your destination, get off, explore and then hop-on the bus again to your next destination. To ride this bus, you can purchase an unlimited 1 day pass through the link below:

4.By Taxi: We’d usually take a taxi in Macau when in a hurry, and it’s not as expensive as I thought since the key tourist destinations are quite compact. Take note that if you’re going to ride the taxi at the ferry terminal taxi stand or Macau Airport Taxi stand, there’s an addition MOP 5 charge. There’s also an MOP 2/PHP 13 (HKD 2/USD 0.25/SGD 0.34/MYR 1)surcharge between Taipa and Coloane.

WHERE TO STAY IN MACAU

Macau has a reputation of being expensive, but it is possible to stay here on a budget. There are several budget hotels in Macau that are concentrated around Senado Square on Macau Peninsula. It is a good base since most of the historical attractions here are walking distance of each other. On top of that, the area is littered with dirt cheap cafes and restaurants.

MACAU BUDGET HOTELS

Here’s a list of some top-rated Macau budget hotels according to confirmed guests.

IMPORTANT: To check the room rates on mobile, once you click the link, you can change the date to your preferred date/s of stay in the selected hotel then hit “Search”. Then, scroll down for different types of rooms and their rates.

LUXURY HOTEL IN MACAU

We stayed in Ascott Macau, a luxurious business hotel in the Dynasty District of Macau Peninsula. The location is pretty convenient as it is walking distance to some famous attractions in the city, about 20-minute walk. The room I got is the Executive Suites, pretty spacious and a beautiful blend of contemporary flair and glam. It’s perfect for couples or family who wants to enjoy a convenient vacation in Macau. Its opulence is unpretentious, not too glaring for the eye that adds up to its elegance. It is also peaceful since there’s no gaming center inside the hotel, so you will be assured of a relaxing stay. But if you want to see Macau Peninsula at night and enjoy the glitz of other big luxury establishments, just cross the street

Ascott Macau

WHERE TO EAT IN MACAU

Some restaurants in Macau Peninsula around the luxury hotels have Portuguese restaurants with exorbitant prices. If you want to stick to your budget, eat in one of the restaurants or cafes near St. Paul’s Church Ruins. Taipa Village is also a good place to eat as there are a lot of good restaurants scattered here at reasonable prices. Luxury hotels in Cotai also offer delectable cuisines and buffet meals for around PHP 900 +, better than the expensive restaurants in Macau. If you want to avail of this, you can purchase the coupons below.

1.MACAU TOWER

When Hongkong billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-Sun visited New Zealand New Zealand, he was inspired and wanted to build a similar tower to Auckland’s Sky Tower. He then commissioned an architect to build a similar tower that is now used for broadcasting and telecommunications. The Macau Tower has an observation deck offering a panoramic view of Macau and home to many adventure activities like the popular Macau bungee jump and the skywalk.

How to get there: Take a taxi to Macau Tower or ride any of the following buses: 9A, 18,21, 23,32 and 26.

Nearby Tourist Attractions: Macau Bridge

2.SENADO SQUARE

A DIY walking tour of the old Macau usually starts at Senado Square, an old plaza adjacent to Leal Senado Building, hence the name. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Historic Center of Macau. Here, you’ll come face to face with historic age-old buildings, churches and delicious Macau traditional street food. While you are here, you can also visit the nearby yellow-colored St. Dominic’s Church as well as the Macau Cathedral.

Entrance Fee: FREE

Open Hours: 24 hours, but shops close around 9:00 PM

How to get there: Ride any of the following buses: 3, 3X, 4,6A,8A,18A,19,26A,33 or N1A to Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro and walk from there. You may also ride bus 2,5,16 or 28 B to Avenida da Praia Grande. Alternatively, you can take the free shuttle bus to Grand Lisboa and walk down Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro to reach Senado Square.

3. ST. PAUL’S CHURCH RUINS

Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Senado Square, is the iconic St. Paul’s Church Ruins, probably the most photographed tourist attraction in Macau. It’s a charming mix of European and Asian architectural flair. There are also several shops, stores and restaurants down the stairs of the church’s façade. The food and the drinks are really good here at cheap prices. This is where you can try the delicious Portuguese tart and pork buns.

Entrance Fee: FREE for the façade of the Church of Mater Dei but there’s admission for the following:

4. MONTE FORTRESS

Monte Fortress is the historical center of Macau military. Standing beside St.Paul’s Church and home to Macau Museum, you can trek the hill where it is located to get a panoramic view of Macau. If you visit early in the morning you will most likely chance upon some elders exercising and practicing tai chi.

Entrance Fee: FREE

Open Hours: Daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

How to get there: Board any of the following buses to Hospital Kiang Wu: 8A, 17, 18 A, 18, 18B, 19 or 26. If you are in Senado Square follow the sign to St. Paul Ruins, the fortress is beside it.

How to get to Macau Museum: Take any of the following buses: Bus 2,3,3A,4,5,6,7,8A,10,10A,11,17,18,21A or 26. Once you are in Senado Square, just follow the sign to Ruins of St. Paul’s, Macau Museum is beside it (on Monte fortress).

9. MACAU EIFFEL TOWER

Another new addition to Macau’s iconic landmarks is the replica of Eiffel Tower, proudly standing at The Parisian Macau. Beside the structure is a French-inspired Building that pretty much exudes a romantic French atmosphere. You can get a panoramic view of Macau city on its observation deck at the peak of the tower. Book discounted tickets below.

10. MACAU SHOWS

Photo provided by Klook

Many luxury hotels in Macau offer shows that you can watch for free or with a fee. The top Macau shows according to TripAdvisor are: The House of Dancing Water in City Dreams, Dream Works Experience at Cotai Strip Resort, Performance Lake at Wynn Palace and Tree of Prosperity at Wynn Palace. You can book discounted tickets below for some Macau shows:

TIP: If you want to save on entrance fees to Hong Kong and Macau’s top tourist attractions, you can avail of the iVenture Card. This includes discounts to Ngong Ping 360, Noah’s Ark, Ocean Park, Sky100 Observation Deck, Macau Tower, and more

11. TAIPA VILLAGE

This charming traditional village is hemmed in by colorful houses, traditional shops, age-old temples, beautiful churches and a plethora of restaurants. It is located in Taipa close to the Cotai strip. It is a good place to try Macau street food and snacks! Visit the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, Taipa Village Art Space, Our Lady of Carmel Church and Tin Has Temple and Pek Tai Temple.

Entrance Fee: FREE

Open hours: 24 hours

How to get to Taipa Village:

Option 1

Take any of the following buses to Taipa Village: 11, 15, 22, 28A, 30, 33 & 34 and get off at either one of the following stations:

1.Station in Rua Correria da Silva

2.Station at the junction between Rua Correria da Silva and Rua do Regedor

3.Station in Rua da Ponte Negra

Option 2:

From Cotai Resorts like Galaxy Macau, Studio City or Wynn Palace, take the shuttle bus to Taipa Village. Travel time is about 15-30 minutes.

4.Before you cross the street, you should see an escalator to a pedestrian walkway. Proceed to the walkway that will take you to Taipa Village in about 10 minutes.

12. MACAU FISHERMAN’S WHARF

I was pretty excited to visit here because of the photos I’ve seen on Facebook. But to be honest, it’s quite disappointing. Fisherman’s Wharf is promoted as a theme park but it’s pretty deserted. The place is actually a collection of restaurants, high-end shops and bars that are set in Arabian Nights and Renaissance-era Europe. There are some rides here for children, but it’s almost empty. If you decide to visit, you can go there to dine as it has a good selection of international restaurants serving American, Thai and Indian food.

Alternatively, you may also take the shuttle to Hotel Sands Macau or shuttle buses to Macau Fisherman’s Wharf from downtown Macau.

OTHER TOURIST SPOTS IN MACAU:

GUIA FORTRESS: Perched on Guia Hill, the Guia Fortress is one of the oldest western-style bastion in China. It is part of the Historic Center of Macu listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a Guia cable car running to the top if Guia Hill where tourists can ride from the entrance of Flora Garden at Avenida de Sidonio Pais.

A-MA TEMPLE: Dedicated to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu, A-ma Temple is one of the oldest temples in Macau built sometime in 1488.

Entrance Fee: FREE

Open Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: Largo de Barra, Macau

How to get to A-Ma Temple: Take bus 6,8, 9 or 28 B

GRAND PRIX MUSEUM: Built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Grand Prix Racing in Macau. This building houses everything related to the Grand Prix from photos, to videos, cups, commemorative items, etc.

Entrance Fee: FREE

Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Tuesday)

Address: 431 R. de Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macau

How to get to A-Ma Temple: Take bus 1A, 3,10B, 10X, 10,23,28A,29, or32 to Tourism Activities Center.

WINE MUSEUM: Beside the Grand Prix Museum is the Wine Museum that aims to showcase the brewing culture of wine. It has over 1,000 brands of wine from all over the world.

Entrance Fee: FREE

Address: 431 R. de Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macau

Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Tuesday)

Address: 431 R. de Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macau

How to get to A-Ma Temple: Take bus 1A, 3,10B, 10X, 10,23,28A,29, or32 to Tourism Activities Center.

MACAU ITINERARY + BUDGET

Macau Itinerary (3 Days 2 nights)

This is a sample Macau Itinerary for 3 days 2 nights, take note that this is for Macau only. This entails that you fly to Macau first from the Philippines. Feel free to tweak this depending on your schedule, budget and likings. I wrote a separate Macau and Hong Kong itinerary below with sample budget.

6. Before the crossing, there is an escalator to the pedestrian walkway.

Walk there and you should reach Taipa Village in about 10 minutes.

Option 2

If you opt for this route, you have to leave your luggage somewhere.

1. Find the nearest bus stop.

2. Take any of the following bus: Bus #11,15,22,28A,30,33 & 34.

If you are near Senado Square, take bus 11 from Avenida Almeida Ribeiro

If you are coming from Jetfoil Terminal, take bus 28A.

3. Get off at any of the following stations: Rua da Ponte Negra, Rua Corerreri da Silva and Rua do Regedor.

If you take bus #11 or bus 28A, alight at Taipa Stadium, walking distance to Taipa Village.

8:45 AM

Taipa Village.(Free)

12:00 PM

Lunch. (MOP 80 – ₱530)

01:00 PM

Walk back to Venetian Macau.

Claim luggage.

01:15 PM

Shuttle to Macau ferry terminal or Macau Airport (Free)

02:00 PM

Flight check-in.

04:45 PM

Fly to Manila or home country.

MACAU TRIP EXPENSES (BUDGET BREAKDOWN)

MACAU TRIP BUDGET

Here’s a sample Macau trip expenses if you follow the itinerary above. This assumes that you are two persons, sharing the hotel and taxi costs.

*Ticket prices, rides, and hotel rates are subject to change without prior notice.

DAY 1

Bus (Macau Airport to City Center)

Free

Hotel (per person)

₱1,200 (MOP 181/HKD 176)

Dinner

₱530 (MOP 80/HKD 78)

Bus to Senado Square

₱21 (MOP 3.20/HKD 3.12)

DAY 1 TOTAL EXPENSES

₱1,772 (MOP 267.40/HKD 260)

Optional:

Macau Tower

₱740 (MOP 112/HKD 109)

DAY 2

Hotel (per person)

₱1,020 (MOP 154/HKD 150)

Senado Square

Free

St. Dominic Church

Free

St.Paul Church Ruin

Free

Macau Museum

₱99 (MOP 15/HKD 15)

Brunch

₱331 (MOP 50/HKD 49)

Venetian Macau

Free

Lunch

₱530 (MOP 80/HKD 78)

City of Dreams

Free

Studio City

Free

Parisian Macau

Free

Shuttle to Taipa Ferry Terminal

Free

Ferry to Hong Kong

₱985 (MOP 149/HKD 145)

DAY 2 TOTAL EXPENSES

₱2,965 (MOP 448/HKD 437)

Optional Rides:

Gondola Ride

₱733 (MOP 111/HKD 108)

Golden Reel Ferris Wheel

₱550 (MOP 83/HKD 81)

Parisian Macau

₱543 (MOP 82/HKD 80)

DAY 3

Bus to Taipa Village (Venetian Macau)

Free

Lunch

₱530 (MOP 80/HKD 530)

Bus to Macau Airport

Free

DAY 3 TOTAL EXPENSES

₱530 (MOP 80/HKD 78)

GRAND TOTAL

₱4,197 (MOP 633.50/HKD 617)

If you follow the sample Macau itinerary above for 3 days 2 nights, it’ll set you back approximately MOP 633.50/₱4,197 (HKD 617/USD 78/SGD 91/MYR 468) per person if you are a 2 pax.

This assumes that you will be staying at a hotel for MOP 181/₱ 1,200 (HKD 176/USD 22/SGD 31/MYR 92) per person, your food budget is limited to around MOP 50/₱331- MOP80/ ₱530 and you will be using the free hotel shuttles.

Macau + Hong Kong Itinerary (5 Days 4 Nights) with Budget

Here’s a 5 days 4 nights Macau and Hong Kong itinerary with budget. My friend Kennethand I tried most of the activities this on a recent trip. I wrote the budget breakdown below. Feel free to amend this depending on your schedule, budget, and activities that you want to try and experience. This sample itinerary entails that you fly to Macau from the Philippines or wherever your home country is, then cross by ferry to Hong Kong. Then fly out from Hong Kong to your home country or your next destination.

If Hong Kong is your point of entry and you will be crossing to Macau, you can read my Hong Kong travel guide below with sample Hong Kong + Macau budget itinerary. The sample itinerary there assumes that you will fly to Hong Kong first and fly out from Macau.

*You can replace this Day 5 itinerary with shopping or other HK destinations.

08:00 AM

ETD to Montane and Ocenaic Mansion. 27 mins. (HKD 14 – ₱95)

1. The MTR to Hong Kong Station.

2. Alight at Hong Kong Station and walk to Central Station.

3. Ride the MTR Island Line (Blue line) at Platform 3 to Chai Wan.

4. Get off at Quarry Bay Station.

5. Take Exit A.

6.Walk along King’s Road to Tai Koo.

7.Walk past the junction to Mount Parker. 2-3 mins.

8.The small entrance is on the left. Get inside.

08:30 AM

Ask permission first before taking photos. Avoid hindering local activities.

Avoid making noise. Do not litter.

09:30 AM

ETD Choi Hung Estate + Ping Shek Estate. 17 mins.

(HKD 14 – ₱95)

1. Walk back to Quarry Bay Station.

2. Ride the MTR Tseung Kwan O line (Violet Line) to Yau Tong. 5 mins.

3. Alight at Yau Tong.

4. Change train at Yau Tong Platform 2 to Whampoa. 12 mins.

5. Alight at Choi Hung.

6.Take Exit C4 if you are going to Choi Hung.

Take Exit A2 if you are going to Ping Shek Estate.

09:50 AM

Go to basketball court. Photo op.

Do not hamper the locals playing basketball.

10:30 AM

MTR back to hotel. 22 mins. (HKD 9.5 – ₱65)

1.Walk back to Choi Hung Station.

2.Take MTR back to hotel.

If hotel is near Tsim Sha Tsui: 22 minutes. (HKD 9.5-₱64)

1.Take Kwun Tong Line (Green) to Whampoa.

2. Alight at Mong Kong Station.

3. Change to Mong Kong Platform 2 (Red) to Central Station.

4. Alight at Tsim Sha Tsu Station.

If hotel is near Kowloon: 37 mins.(HKD 9.5 – ₱64)

1.Take Kwun Tong Line (Green) to Whampoa.

2. Alight at Prince Edward Station.

Change train at Prince Edward Platform 1 to Tsuen Wan (Red Line)

Get off at Lai King

Change MTR at Lai King Platform 4 to Hong Kong Station.

Alight at Kowloon Station.

11:10 AM

Lunch.(HKD 70 – ₱476)

11:50 AM

Walk to hotel.

12:00 PM

Check out.

12:15 PM

ETD Airport.

Option 1 (Most convenient)

Hotel shuttle. Inquire ate your hotel.

Or take the free shuttle bus of the nearest luxury hotel to Macau Airport.

Option 2 (Cheapest)

Airport Bus (HKD 33 – ₱ 224.38)

Take A21 if you are staying in Kowloon or Tsim Sha Tsui.

Option 3

MTR, but there will be transfers. 44 mins.

(HKD 11.5 – ₱78)

Directions if you’ll take the MTR:

1. Ride the MTR red line to Tsuen Wan Station.

2. Alight at Lai King Station

3. Change train at Ling King Platform 3 towards Tung Chung.

4. Get off at Tsing Yi.

5. Change train at Tsing Yi Platform 1 to Asia World Expo.

6. Get off at the Airport Station.

Option 4 (Fastest)

Airport Express. About 25 minutes. (HKD 70 – ₱475)

01:15 PM

Flight check-in.

04:20 PM

Fly back to Manila.

(MACAU + HONG KONG 5 DAYS 3 NIGHTS)

Here’s the sample Macau + Hong Kong trip budget if you follow the above itinerary. This assumes that you are a party of two and you are staying in a budget hotel in Macau for MOP 362/PHP 2,399 (good for two persons) per night or MOP 181/PHP 1,200 per person per night. While in Hong Kong, HKD 150/PHP 1,020 per person per night. Also, if your food budget is limited to MOP 80 (PHP 530) and HKD 70 (PHP 476) per meal.

*Ticket prices, rides, and hotel rates are subject to change without prior notice.

Total expenses for a 5 day 4 nights Macau-Hong Kong trip if you follow the itinerary above and if you are two persons sharing the cost of hotel and taxi is MOP 2,492 – ₱17,532 (HKD 2,432/USD 353.80/SGD 427/MYR 1,233).

A large portion of the Hong Kong budget is for Disneyland, if you want to skip Disneyland, you can subtract the Disneyland Resort budget for HKD 537-₱3,670 (MOP 562/USD 69.80/SGD 94/MYR 280), it should be down to about MOP 1,930 –₱13, 862 (HKD 1,895 /USD 284/SGD 333/MYR 953) per person.

MACAU TRAVEL TIPS and REMINDERS

Photocopy the profile page of your passport and bring it with you when leaving your hotel. Keep your passport inside a safe in your hotel.

You can use your Hong Kong Dollars in Macau, but you can’t use your Macau pataca in Hong Kong. Change your Macau pataca in Macau to Hong Kong Dollars if you will be crossing the border.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

All visual content, videos, images and articles featured on this site is copyright to www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com (unless otherwise stated or if it's a public domain) and may not be reproduced in any blog or elsewhere in any way without explicit written permission. If you own rights to any of the featured photos or contents here and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact us via e-mail and they will be promptly removed.

TERMS OF USE:

The content of every page of this website is for your general knowledge only. We are neither responsible, nor have we control, on content of any external website links. Every effort has been made to make the contents of this website accurate and up-to-date. However,addresses, contact numbers, websites, e-mail addresses, descriptions of features and other forms of information may have changed during the time of writing. We shall not be held responsible for any loss, inconvenience or injury to any entity/party due to unintentional changes or errors inherent in the information obtained. Please also note that to keep this site running for free and provide you free helpful information when planning your trips, when you make a purchase through affiliate links on this site, we may earn a small commission without any additional charges to you.